Temp Control Failure

[hypertech]

I woke up to find water on the floor this morning. Turns out the return line came off, the pump sprayed water all over and the GFI tripped.

 

I got everything cleaned up but now my Apex is telling me its 121 degrees. I tried putting it in a glass of ice water and calibrating, but it would only cycle in the range of 100-130 (reading did not change).

 

It would be a strange coincidence that the temp probe fails at the same time this happened. The Apex is mounted close to the return pump about two feet above it. I'm wondering if the pump might have sprayed water high enough to get the Apex wet and fry something in it. Everything seems to be working except for the temp probe (though I did forget to look at my pH readings this AM), which would seem to be a little odd if it was a problem with the Apex and not the probe.

 

Anyone have thoughts? I need to order replacement parts today since no temp control is, well, a bad thing, and I'm wondering if I need to order a new temp probe, an expansion module that has a temp circuit or both.

[Coral Hind]

Maybe you have water shorting out the sensor. Use a hair dry on low or air only and dry out the connection port and plug.

[zygote2k]

The more important question:

How did the return line come off?

[Spelter]

This is such a fear of mine.

[Coral Hind]

My fear too as I had a probe go bad once, a few years ago. Setting up the controller to send an alarm if temps sway is a good form of protection. I have the AC III controller power one heater and the other is on a Ranco controller so if one goes I still have something.

[hypertech]

I think you were right. About mid day I got a temp back.

 

The return line came off because I took the hose clamp off months ago. I had a "stainless" hose clamp on it but it rusted so I ordered plastic ones and took it off. The plastic ones came but none fit and I never got to ordering a new one. I guess it's time to get that ordered.

[zygote2k]

FWIW, I use SS hose clamps sometimes as long as they're constantly submerged or totally dry. If you use thin walled tubing ( not braided), then the plastic hose clamps work great a long as you push them all the way up the nipple and use more than one clamp.

[Origami]

I don't use the plastic hose clamps much any longer. Instead, I cinch down a plastic zip tie on hose barb connections. Cheap, easy and effective.

 

If you think the Apex got wet, watch it for signs of corrosion. Even as the water dries, it leaves behind salts that will, over time, attract water leading to progressive shorting and misbehavior. This can be really damaging if it got inside the box. In such cases (I've had this happen), I normally would take the circuit board out and, unpowered of course, give it a thorough washing in RO/DI water before drying it thoroughly. We actually have a "dishwasher" and oven at work that we use for this purpose when cleaning boards to remove residues after some assembly work on some projects.

[hypertech]

I'll do the zip tie till I can get over to West for a good hose clamp.

 

The strange thing is that I did find water all over the place, but I didn't feel any on the base unit. I probably should open it up and clean it though.

 

I've got a waterbug sitting here in a box too - probably time to get that hooked up too.